Specsavers

Making the move from plastic to paper

Optical chain Specsavers Opticas have decided to stop using plastic bags and started using more environmentally friendly paper bags across all eight Spanish stores since September. Specsavers Opticas in Mallorca has gone even further to reduce plastic use and help the local community do the same. They have a Cleanwave water filter in store, to provide free, filtered water to customers and the general public. Residents are welcome to bring water containers into the store and fill them from the filter, to cut down on the need to buy plastic water bottles, or use plastic cups.

The optician in Santa Ponça recycles all plastic from the store and on World Clean Up Day, the store director Martin Blake visited Mallorca’s TIRME Recycling Plant to see what happens to that plastic and also to see what else they can do to help boost recycling on the island. He was very impressed that in Mallorca, almost all waste is recycled and it motivated him to continue with applying environmentally friendly initiatives in store.

“We shall continue to recycle all plastic and are looking for ways to reduce use of plastic packaging wherever possible. We’d like to encourage residents in Santa Ponça to come and make use of the filtered water at the store, as an easy way to cut down on buying water in plastic bottles. We will also be supporting beach cleaning activities on a monthly basis in conjunction with Asociacion Ondine. I believe that we all have a responsibility to protect the environment and take steps to preserve our planet’s future, and hope that other businesses and individuals in Mallorca will follow suit.”

You can take your water bottles to the store on Avenida Rei Jaime I 117 to be refilled between 9.30am and 8pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 1.30pm on Saturday.